Means and method for scoring ice blocks by fluid pressure



Sept. 24, 1929. R. H. ROARK 5 MEANS AND METHOD FOR SCORING ICE BLOCKS BY FLUID PRESSURE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Sept. 24, 1 929.

R. H. ROARK 1,729,186

MEANS AND METHOD FOR SCORING ICE BLOCKS BY FLUID PRESSURE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1929. R. H. ROARK 1,729,186

MEANS AND METHOD FOR SCORING ICE BLOCKS BY FLUID PRESSURE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Ki XM ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT H. ROARK, 0F WACO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PERFECTION ICE SCORING MACHINE COMPANY, OF WACO, TEXAS MEANS AND METHOD FOR SCORING ICE BLOCKS BY FLUID PRESSURE Application filed November 25, 1927.. Serial No. 235,513.

This invention relates to improvements in ice cutting machines, more particularly to that class of machines whereby a block of ice is cut or scored to a certain depth so that the block may be divided into smaller pieces to obviate weighing of the ice and to facilitate the handling thereof.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide such a machine as indicated above, whereb fluid pressure is utilized together with an embodiment of parts to effect vertical movement of revoluble saws in scoring the ice in a vertical plane, and secondly by an arrangement of similar means to move the ice by fluid pressure between saws to score the ice on a horizontal plane.

In the drawings herein is illustrated one form of construction whereby the above objects are attained. The invention is not to be understood, however, as being limited to any particular or specific arrangement of parts or to the embodiment herein shown, as fluid pressure may be applied in varied ways.

In Figure 1 is shown a side elevational view of the machine.

Figure 2 is an end view.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 5 are detail views of an ice pusher, illustrating the same in different positions.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of a double-action cylinder and its valve and coacting parts.

Figure 7 is a side view of a valve disk and rod for operating a valve.

Figure 8 illustrates a sectional detail view of a bracket and rollers for guiding one of the vertical saws; and t Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing a single-action cylinder, valve and parts.

The machine comprises a framework consisting of upright channel irons 1 and cross members 2 connected together to provide a rigid support for the mechanism. The frame includes a base 3 and the cross members 2 are extended at 3 beyond the frame to provide a support for a motor 4. The motor is connected by belt 5 to a pulley 6 located on a shaft 7 and by means of gears 8 and 9 drives power by wires (not shown). These motors are free to move vertically on one of the channel irons as shown in the drawings which provides a guide way for the rollers 21 secured to the motor by members 22. V

The motors are connected to opposite ends of a chain or cable 23 passing over pulleys 24. The pulleys are mounted on shafts 25 seated in bearings 26. The length of this chain or cable is such that when one saw is above the block of ice, the other saw is below the block of ice, as clearly shown in the drawings,

The motor operating the saw 14 has acounterweight 1 1 and is also connected to a cable or chain 27 which passes over wheel 28 and then downward into a cylinder 29 illustrated in detail in Figure 9. This cylinder includes a weighted piston 30 and a valve 31 controlled by a disk 32.

There is also provided a cylinder 33; including a piston, piston rod 3.5, valve 36, valve disk 37 and valve control rod 38 and an arm 39-the rod 35. includingan ice pusher 40. These parts will be referred to hereinafter in describing the operation of the machine.

When a block of ice is placed in themachine for vertical scoring, fluid pressure isadmitted to the bottom of cylinder 29, raising the weighted piston 30, whereupon the weight of the saw 1 1 and motor 18 including the counterweight 1 1' is sufficient to cause this motor and saw to descend and thereby pulling the motor 19 and its saw 15 to the top of the frame may be automatically moved back to the first position before removing the ice block.

After vertically scoring the ice block it may be removed from the machine by means of the double-action cylinder 33. The operation of this cylinder is such that when the saw is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 1, the motor 19 comes in contact with the finger 38 on rod 38. Since the rod 38 is connected to the valve disk 37, the disk is moved around until the notch 37 registers with the projection 39"011 the arm 39. This causes the valve 36 to open, admitting fluid pressure into the valve through pipe 4-4. The valve is then open as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6 and the fluid pressure passes into pipe 45 in the direction of the dotted line arrow to the left in Figure 6, moving the piston 34 to the right. Any exhaust air or liquid will then pass from the cylinder through pipe 46 through the valve, thence out pipe 48.

This movement of the piston rod will pull the ice pusher to the right in the drawing, moving the block of ice A to the position A and in moving to this position the block is drawn between the saws 11 and scored horizontally by the saws, and at the same time removed from the machine.

The piston 34 is then at the right end of the cylinder 33 and when the pusher has moved to the position 40 the triangular shaped member 49 comes in contact with the finger 50 on arm 39, thus throwing the finger 39 out of the notch 37 and the valve 36 is in the position shown by full lines in Figure 6 being returned by the spring. Fluid pressure is then admitted in pipe 44, flowing in pipe 46 in direction of full-line arrow, and the piston 7' rod is returned to former position. The pusher is hinged and readily passes under a block of ice and when free is returned to normal upright position by the spring 53. The exhaust in left side of the piston 33 then passes through pipes 45 and 48 in direction of full line arrows in Figure 6.

The valve disk 32 controlling valve 31 may be operated manually by any preferred means, the pressure entering through pipe 55 and exhausting through pipe 56 in the direction of the arrows.

It is evident that the vertical scoring of the ice may be made before the horizontal scoring, or the horizontal scoring made prior to the vertical scoring. Also that the fluid pressure means asused in cylinder 33 may be used to pull the ice into the machine as well as to remove it therefrom.

If desired the operation .of the vertical saws may be omitted and the machine used to make the horizontal scores only, while the block standing on end is passed through the horizontal saws by fluid pressure means.

What isclaimed as new is:

1. In an ice scoring machine, a pair of scoring devices spaced apart substantially the means for moving said scoring devices vertically in opposite directions for simultaneously scoring opposite sides of an ice block.

4. In an ice scoring machine, a pair of scoring devices spaced apart substantially the width of a block of ice, actuating means for moving said scoring devices vertically in opposite directions for simultaneously scoring opposite sides of an ice block, and means for automatically cutting off said actuating means when the scoring is completed.

5. In an ice scoring machine, a pair of scoring devices spaced apart substantially the width of a block of ice, fluid pressure means for moving said scoring devices vertically in opposite directions for simultaneously scoring opposite sides of an ice block, and means for automatically cutting off and releasing the fluid pressure as soon as the vertical scoring operation is complete.

6. In an ice scoring machine, a pair of scor ing devices spaced apart substantially the width of a block of ice, fluid pressure means for moving said scoring devices vertically in opposite directions for simultaneously scoring opposite sides of an ice block, means for automatically cutting off and releasing the fluid pressure as soon as the vertical scoring operation is complete, and horizontally disposed scoring means for. scoring the block after the vertical scoring operation.

7. In an ice scoring machine, a pair of scoring devices spaced apart substantially the width of a block of ice, fluid pressure means for moving said scoring devices vertically in opposite directions for simultaneously scoring opposite sides of an ice block, means for automatically cutting oif and releasing-the fluid pressure as soon as the vertical scoring operation is complete, means for scoring the blocks of ice horizontally after said vertical scoring operation, automatically operating fluid pressure means for advancing the ice to said horizontal scoring means after the vertical scoring operation, and means for automatically cutting off and releasing fluid pressure from said ice advancing means as soon as the horizontal scoring is completed.

8. The method of scoring an ice block while i the ice is on end which consists in simultaneously moving ice scoring means vertically in opposite directions on opposite sides of the block.

9. An ice scoring machine comprising a. framework, motors carrying saws vertically slidable on opposite sides of said framework, the said saws being spaced apart substantially the width of a block of ice, fluid pressure means for moving said motors and saws vertically in opposite directions for simultaneously scoring a block of ice, horizontal stationary saws for scoring the ice after the vertical scoring operation is completed, fluid pressure means for advancing the ice to the stationary saws, and means for automatically cutting oil and releasing fluid pressure from each said fluid pressure means as soon as its respective operation is completed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT H. ROARK.

DISOLAI ME R '1,729,186. -Robert H. Roarlc Waco, Tex. MEANS AND METHOD FOR SCORING Ion BLOcKs BY FLUID PRESSURE. Patent dated September 24, 1929. Disclaimer filed March 7, 1981, by the assignee, General Ice Scoring Machine Company. Hereby disclaims (a) the invention set forth in claims 1 and 4 of its said patent excepting when in the ice-scoring machine claimed, the scoring devices comprise movable saw and motor units as the units comprisingthe saw 14 and motor 18, and the saw 15 and motor 19, respectively, and (b) the invention set forth in claim 2 of its said patent excepting when in the ice-scoring machine claimed the motor operated rotating saws further referred to as scoring devices comprise movable saw and motor units as the units comprising the saw 14 and motor 18, and the saw 15 and motor 19, respectively.

[Oyficz'al Gazette March 24, 1931.] v 

